Late Yirol Paramount Chief Bahon Mabor. | Courtesy.

A prominent paramount chief in Yirol County of Lakes State passed away on Saturday after 55 years in chieftaincy.

Sultan Bahon Mabor Deng died two days after attending the opening of a wrestling tournament between Central Equatoria State and Lakes State.

Lakes State Minister of Local Government Chol Kotwel Malong says the entire state is aggrieved by the loss of the long-time traditional leader.

“As people and the government of Lakes State we are grieved to have lost a long serving paramount chief uncle Bahon Mabor Deng. He is a chief who served his people for a long time of 55 years,” Malong said to the state media SSBC.

The minister described the late chief as a nationalist and a symbol of peace.

He said Sultan Mabor is remembered for championing communal peace and stability within Lakes State and with its neighbors.

“We have lost peace a maker, symbol of Unity, loving father and a nationalist. I think by the time he was appointed as the executive chief in this community they were no social services it was not like these, but now if you can compare Yirol in terms of unity of the people, it came as a result of his participation”.

Two days before his demise, Sultan Mabor gave a powerful speech on peaceful coexistence to young people gathered at the Lakes – Central Equatoria wrestling tournament.